what does God want from me?

Have you ever found yourself asking God…

“What is it you actually want from me?”

He has shown you, O man, what is good (ethical). And what does the Lord require (seek) of you but to act justly (with justice), to love mercy (kindness — especially as extended to the lowly, needy and miserable), and to walk humbly (with modesty; posture of lowliness) with your God?

Micah 6:8

text in tan = meaning of the Hebrew word used in this verse according to Strong’s Concordance & Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon

Preceding this verse, Micah pleads with God’s people, Israel, to remember the mercies God has shown them. He asks them to look back over their journeys with God and then he summarizes what is apparent through their experiences:

God has shown us what is ethical. 

God has made it clear what He is looking for in a worshiper --in his disciple. He desires his people to:

• Act with justice

  to do what is right; to act with integrity

• Extend kindness & mercy

  especially to the lowly, the needy, the miserable

  Sidenote: our/my instinct can be to give when it is reciprocal or deserved; interestingly, God doesn’t quantify or justify a person’s need or misery as a requirement to be shown kindness or mercy — He simply places high value on the attribute of showing kindness & mercy to someone who is need of this grace

• Walk with God in humility

  acknowledging God’s greatness & Source of everything we need

A Prayer of Response

Lord, please help me to respond to your longing for humble worshipers — by acting with justice, loving to showing kindness & mercy & by walking with humility in stride with You. Amen.